Nas invests in urban lifestyle magazine

Rapper Nas has poured his money into urban lifestyle magazine Mass Appeal after signing on as a financial investor. The I Can hitmaker graced the cover of the New York-based publication with hip-hop producer Large Professor in 2002 and now he’s helping editors get the magazine back on its feet following a five-year printing hiatus by cutting the company a six-figure cheque.
Opening up about the venture to Forbes magazine, he says, “I always liked what Mass Appeal represented. They invested into the culture… I saw their vision for what they planned and I thought I could add value across the board.”
And although Nas, real name Nasir Jones, admits his new role could present a conflict of interest, he’s adamant he won’t have any editorial control: “I won’t get involved with that at all… I won’t touch anything, they’re free to say whatever they want. They can say I’m a psychopath, they can say I’m a sweetheart … As long as it’s from their honest opinion, that’s all that matters to me.”